Review: The Raven and the Dove

Review: The Raven and the Dove

Title: The Raven and the Dove

Author: Kaitlyn Davis

Published: 9 March 2020

Format: eArc, Netgalley

Synopsis (from Goodreads): A princess longing to be free…

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong…

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart…

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you’ll never see coming, don’t miss The Raven and the Dove!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Review:

Not gonna lie, the cover lust drove me to request this book from Net Galley. I was hooked from the very first page! The Raven and the Dove takes a lot of time to set up everything, but the pacing is quick and enjoyable to read, without it being info-dumpy.

The plot is interesting. Winged people. Different houses in the sky. Forbidden magic. A bastard, prince, princess, and a girl with a secret. It’s a recipe for success in my book, although I will warn all potential readers the insta-love is big. It made me roll my eyes, but the rest of the book makes up for it.

The characters are great – even though Rafe and Lyana are a bit stereotypical (brooding YA hero and the girl who is going to save the world); however background characters Xander and Cassie are fantastic and conflicted characters who I really hope get more time to shine in the sequel.

Rafe – brooding, bastard, but still lovable because he would do anything for this brother. He actually has more going for his character than being Lyana’s love interest.

Lyana – spoiled princess here to save everyone, but I like that she acts her part. She doesn’t try to be someone she’s not, and she follows her heart – even when it’s not the best idea. Her actions reflect those of an impulsive teen girl, which she is.

Xander – I think we needed more background information on him. He feels like he can’t be successful because of his disability, but he is strong in so many different ways that he has yet to understand.

Cassie – Her character felt a little all over the place, but that’s fair since she is living a double life. I really liked her as the book went on.

I am genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was exactly what I needed!

All in all, The Raven and the Dove is a fast-paced fantasy (something the fantasy genre has been needing, in my opinion), and I am desperate to get book two ASAP!